Drink Too Much At Your Office Happy Hour? Here's How To Fix It

There was an open bar, a round (or five) of drinks with your
co-workers, and things got a little out of hand — now what? If
you go a little overboard at the office happy hour, you should
deal with the aftermath in a smart, professional way to avoid any
extra drama. Save face and keep your reputation intact by
following these five tips:

Don't draw any extra attention to the
situation. If people aren't talking about it,
don't bring it up. There's no reason to dish on last night's
shenanigans with all your co-workers, so skip the "What was I
thinking?" small talk and bring up job-related topics instead.

Apologize and accept
responsibility. Accidentally offend someone with
your behavior? Own up to your actions and say you're sorry.
It's better to step up and deal with it than to push it aside,
because ignoring the problem may build unnecessary resentment.

Redeem yourself. Should any issues arise,
address them with honesty and humility. What you said or did
under the influence may have reflected poorly on your
character, so this is your chance to demonstrate a bit of
integrity.

Steer conversations elsewhere. If the
incident continues to come up, do what you can to redirect the
dialogue. Laugh off any light jabs, then let it go. The only
way other people will move on is if you do, too.

Try to learn from your mistake. Actions
speak louder than words, so back up your apologies with
sensible, office-appropriate behavior. Prove yourself by
sticking to one or two drinks next time and remember that what
you do outside the office still reflects on your professional
reputation.